Underage Drinking and Family History

Name: Rayan Al-Turki

Class: ENG-111

Introduction

Alcoholism is a key issue that many youths are grappling with globally. It has become
the drug of choice among many youths. Many young people are taking to alcohol at a very
young age. Consequently, this has made underage drinking one of the leading health
problems. Alcohol use among the youth is linked to an array of vices and risky behaviours
which include drinking and driving, tobacco abuse (Boyle, 2013). Additionally, it has been
seen to affect even those that do not drink through victimization, second-hand smoking, and
personal intrusion. A trend that has been noted to bring forth alcohol abuse in young people
is the initiation of alcohol use at a tender age.
Excessive consumption of alcohol is cited to be behind over 4,300 deaths in
2012(Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, 2016). The underage alcoholism by
the year 2012 had cost the United States government over $24 billion in terms of
rehabilitation and management of underage alcoholism. According to a 2014 survey, drug
abuse affects an approximate of 8.7 million Americans aged between 12 to 20 years
(Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, 2016). These numbers represent nearly
24% of the underage drinkers. However, there has been a notable decline in heavy alcohol
consumption and binge drinking between 2003 and 2014 (Foundation for Advancing Alcohol
Responsibility, 2016).
World Health Organization cites Alcoholism is a public health issue since it brings
about societal burden with undesirable health threats. Alcoholism is known as one of the
causes of deaths globally. Studies posit alcoholism is behind 1.5% of alcoholic adults
globally. WHO also cite that alcoholism is behind high mortality and disability rates. For this
reason, alcoholism is projected to be a risk element in the 2010 to 2020 decade.
It is a well-documented fact that adolescents that thrive in families with a history of
alcoholism or have a member grappling with alcoholism can influence an adolescent

negatively or positively. The youth that have had both or one parent who is alcoholic may
have a higher risk of consuming alcohol as compared to children that have grown in an
alcohol-free environment. The alcoholism in the former case is four times probable as
compared in the latter case. It is evident that the family image in the contemporary society
comprises of individuals fighting socio-economic hardships coupled by punitive and harsh
educational standards about the young family members (Fuller-Thomson, Sheridan, Sorichetti
& Mehta, 2013). The family is further overwhelmed by a cultural values clash where only the
only avenue of leisure is the ingestion or consumption of alcohol. These elements, once
combined with the habit of alcohol abuse continue to be frequently tied to domestic squabbles
or intra-family violence.
When alcoholism becomes part of an adolescents life, it forms part of their identity
and that of their peers. The addiction takes up a psycho-social angle which is an avenue in
which habits and behaviours are formed in the face of a drug which is a constant feature in
the day-to-day familial routine. It is this reason that the comprehension of the relationship
history of adolescents who live with an alcoholic family member will allow for the
understanding of the forms and representations of alcoholic related conditions. This study
will thus focus on highlighting the link between family history and underage drinking.

Social conformity and curiosity are said to be the key drivers of alcoholic abuse in
young people. In many scenarios, a youthful individual is introduced to alcohol by an older
person mostly an acquaintance or family member. After gaining the knowledge, the
adolescent then passes this individual to his or he peers. Many underage drinkers perceive
alcohol as a thrilling and exciting venture for many underage drinks. Alcohol is perceived by
many adults as an avenue for forging social interactions within groups. The underage drinkers

hold this notion too (Scherer, 2013). Other youthful individuals feel that alcohol enhances
their confidence and reduce inhibitions as they partake in social activities.
Underage drinking is established to be age-specific. Many youthful drinkers tend to
imbibe alcohol in hidden areas or go to great extent to hide their habits from adults and law
enforcement officers. Much of their drinking comprises of cheap liquor which is usually
premixed with soft drinks, juices, and other flavoured drinks. As many young people grow
older, they embrace the drinking habit openly in licensed establishments such as clubs and
bars.
Alcoholic drinking is alluring to many underage drinkers due to the symbolism
attached to them. Some of the drinks are assumed to be masculine while others deemed
feminine. Notably, the packaging of the alcoholic drinks also is used as a measure of ones
expertise in alcohol consumption. To many teenagers, taking hard liquor shows ones
expertise in alcohol consumption. Also consuming large amounts of alcohol is perceived
many youthful individuals as a status of maturity and know-how in drinking. The trends may
change as the teenagers age with many switching from starter drinks such as Cider to beer
which is perceived as an alcoholic drink (Bonnie, O'Connell & National Research Council,
2003).
Due to perceived low self-control, many youthful individuals place much emphasis on
getting intoxicated. The male underage drinkers in many surveys were noted to pursue high
intoxication as a status symbol among their peers. Levels of alcoholic consumption are also
used to judge the status of other consumers of alcohol (Foundation for Advancing Alcohol
Responsibility, 2016). Among these groups, the overall intoxication levels within group levels
tend to be much lower. The drinking objectives adopted by groups also vary according to the
drinking sessions social context. It is established that constraints such as hours that underage

teenagers ought to report home leads to the adjustment of drinking to regular drinking
routine.
Popular media is also seen as one of the precursors of underage drinking. It should be
noted that over $25 billion is invested in promotional advertisements in the media by alcohol
and tobacco companies. The digital media platforms are also used to advertise alcohol
packaging it as cool and hip. The media makes indelible marks in the impressionable minds
of underage youth making the perceive alcohol as an important facet of the social life. In the
past, there had been efforts by lobby groups such as American Academy of Paediatrics to
have limitations when it came to advertising alcohol on Television in R-rated and PG-13
movies (Virginia, 2011).
Rebellion has also been said to be a primary cause of underage drinking. Many
rebellious teenagers use alcohol as a means of expression for angry teenagers. It allows them
to behave angrily. Alcohol consumption is further used to flaunt underage teenagers
perceived independence from parental control. Other teens pursue instant gratification when
it comes to alcohol consumption. The alcohol gives them an immediate high or feel-good
feeling. It enables them to escape from reality.

This research will employ quantitative analysis which will be greatly anchored in
models and theories surrounding alcoholism and underage drinking. The models will provide
approaches that will dissect alcoholism as a societal issue. The study will also employ
qualitative method with the intent of looking into the life history method to ascertain the
relation between underage drinking and family history. This method will incorporate the
fielding of history through oral interviews. The oral tradition will further comprise the
narratives offered by the subject acting as a bridge for interaction between the social

environment and the individual. It will also avail in the course of execution of the study for
the collection of pertinent recollection of some aspect of a persons life which has influenced
how he or she leads her life. The mode of this study is founded on the interdependency
between a person and object. It offers a link between a subjects subjectivity and the objective
world.
The use of the life history mainly aids in understanding adolescent history and
acquired habits over the years. The past will be used to dissect an underage drinkers
construction of his or her social understanding of alcoholism as a social ill. The drinking
problem notably provides social representations of alcoholism which will be instrumental in
understanding the attitude he or she may pursue concerning the social habit of consuming
alcohol.
Conclusion
The research will be essential in establishing the link between family history and
alcoholism in underage drinkers. The study will also seek to provide answers on how
alcoholism can be curbed at the familial level or contained early in a youths life. It will also
seek to establish causes of addiction and how best to mitigate them. The study will also
incorporate theoretical foundations that will offer insightful information regarding underage
drinking and behaviour. The study will use the primary data to understand various unique
experiences by the respondents. The ethical considerations will be used so that the survey
respondents are cognizant of their roles and rights in the course of the study.

References
Bonnie, R. J., O'Connell, M. E., & National Research Council (U.S.). (2003). Reducing
underage drinking: A collective responsibility. Washington, DC: National Academies
Press.

Boyle, P. (2013). Alcohol: Science, policy and public health. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. (2016). Underage Drinking Statistics Responsibility.org. Retrieved from http://responsibility.org/get-thefacts/research/statistics/underage-drinking-statistics/
Fuller-Thomson, E., Sheridan, M. P., Sorichetti, C., & Mehta, R. (2013). Underage Binge
Drinking Adolescents: Sociodemographic Profile and Utilization of Family
Doctors.ISRN Family Medicine, 2013, 1-9. doi:10.5402/2013/728730
Scherer, L. S. (2013). Underage drinking. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.
Virginia, Virginia, & Virginia. (2011). Underage drinking. Richmond, Va.: Dept. of
Alcoholic Beverage Control.